Tape-controlling means



Jan. 6, l94p2. B.AKAHN 2,268,828

TAPE-CONTROLLING MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1939 INVENTOR Benjamin Kahn BY Q/Wawg M ATTO R N EYAS' Patented Jan. 6, 1942 Lux Corporation,l New York,vN.

tion'of Delaware Y., acorpora- Applicatikn August 2, 19e9seria1r10.zs7f,sq2 l (orari-eey 1- -Y 8 Claims.A

My invention relates to an arrangement r means for controlling a character-bearing Ltape for movement through aprojection field. g Inaccordance with my invention, Va tape rof the character described is drawn through a `lpro'-` jection field by a tape-drawing means Whichis controlled by an arrangement disposed at! the entrance to the projection field, such arrangement serving to .prevent transmission intothe projection field of tape vibrations such, for ex,- ample, as those produced by the mechanism which prints the tape characters. y

Various other objects, advantages and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. y.

. My invention resides in the tape-controllingl means, features and combinations of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof,ref erence is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which: s

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a cornbined ticker-projection system having associated therewith the tape-controlling meansof myinf, vention; f f Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational View, partly in section, showing my novel tape-controlling means;`

Fig. 3 is an elevational vieu/,corresponding generally with Fig. 2 but; showing a different relation of the parts; and

Fig. 4 is a Vertical sectional elevation, taken on ing in the direction of the arrows. v

.Referring to the drawing, P represents asuitable printing device such, for example,v as the Well known Western Union ticker mechanism utilizable for printing characters representative of stock quotations lengthwiseon a narrowtape T, such tape being .opaqueif desired although, in the form of the invention herein illustrated, said tape Tis formed from transparent or translucent material such asis suitable for through projection. As illustrated although not necessarily, the ticker mechanismy P is l ofa conventional constant speed type and, therefore, itcomprises a roll I of the tape T, a pair of spaced rollers, `not shown, being. utilized'to feed and eject said tape T from the ticker mechanism in a direction from left to rightjFigs. land2, these rollers moving the tape along a path 'which is disposed closely adjacent 'the type Wheel 2 with which the usual platen orjliammer 3 vcovieW, partly in actS @effect the printing.,operatiQmfthe, v55 a finally engagingand passing overa guidesurface 4,. and jthen pa s"sing 'beyond the .housing 5 ofthe ticker mechanism", this housing 5, ifdesired, being mounted, uponjany `suitable' .sup, portl.. L.` 1 i 1,--

j After ,the tape T, leavesthe tickerfwmeclianisrn P, it is drawn through a'suitable projectionfdevice A whereby, images ofthe tape characters are projected' ontolany suitable screen, not shown. Thegprojeton device ,A maygbe` of any suit'- able'type Such as is ,welljknown in therrart. j As hereinshovvn, this ,projection device A comprises` a rear `lamp housing Vl, andr a front lens housing 8,(theprpjection light beam being produced' by a vource of light laand said projecting lightr beam, in suitablenmanner, being caused to pass up-` vvardlythrough a condensing lens 9,`Fig. 2, which is ,disposed at ther top,` of kthe, lens housing 8, said. projecting light beam .then passing up- War'dlyk through the projection field which may be Ian open rectangular aperture formed, as Wellv understood in .the art,` at the top of the lens housing 4i3. After the projecting light, beam leaves that sectionof thek tape Whichis at the aforesaid projection field, it travels vertically thlpllgh therjobjeetive. lens l0 and then, usually, isV reflectedby .one j orymore mirrors before coming into engagement with' theprojection screen, notu shown. `I tmvvillmbeunderstooddthatA the means definingfthe projectionrfield may be omitted, if desired. 1fy so,` the projection. field maybe `con' sidered .,in its,optical vsense as in the planewwhich Y, is at'rightangles to the longitudinal axis of theffobjective1ens- Il,.this plane being in, focus with said objective. lens,

4The tapeT may be pulled or, drawn through the projection field in any suitable manner.l

Thus, forvexamplasaid tape T may be passed beneatha ro-ll Il, or equivalent, the latter being positionedA at orl below` the `horizontal level of the' projection field.r Thereafter,A the tape T passesv over' a pulling lroll I2 rwith the ,upper surfacefof vrWhich said tape isheld in engagement byfan idler roll I3 .mounted on a lever 14, the latter being biased ina. clockwise direction, Fig. l,rby a suitablevspring: l5. After the tape passes beyond the pulling roll l2,ri't preferably engages a guiding surface such as 1an idler roll |6,or equivalent, and thenpasseslupwardly toa suitable` reel l1.

The forefsaidI `pullirig'roll l2 maybe operated any suitable manner. Tojthis end, if desired, the operating Vshaftwforlsaid pullingUroll I2 may carry Lazsuitalple sprocketwheel Ilvvith which y :endless sprocket 'chain j IS engages. this. `chain being operated by a sprocket wheel 20 which, through suitable gear mechanism, not shown; is rotated at suitable speed by an electrical motor 2 As herein shown, although not necessarily, the above described rolls 2, I3, I6, the reel |1 together with the parts associated therewith are carried by a supporting bracket 22 which may be supported in the position shown by any suitable arrangement.

The reel |1 is utilizable in the customary manner for supporting the tape in roll form after said tape has been passed through the projection field. The reel I1 may be operated in any suitable manner and, to this end, an endless spring belt, not shown, may be engaged with pulleys carried, respectively, by the shaft of the reel |1 and the common shaft for the roller I2 and pinion I8. Accordingly, as well understood in the art, the motor 2| furnishes power for operating the pulling roll I2 and the reel |1.

In the form of the invention herein shown, the tape loop formed vor existing between the printing mechanism P and the projection device A is utilized for controlling operation of the tape-drawing means, i. e., the set of 'coacting rollers I2 and I3.

To this end, there may be provided a suitable bracket 25 secured, for example, to the lens housing and which carries a housing or other support 26 for a pair of xed, horizontally disposed members 21, 21a, on which the respective rollers 28, 28a are loosely journalled. Or, if desired, the rollers 28, 28a, may be replaced by stationary cyinders or members fixed to the respective members 21, 21a. Disposed above and between the members 21, 21a is a movable structure or roller structure 29 which comprises a transverse member 3B terminating in the oppositely disposed disks 3|, 3| a. Between the disks 3| and 3|a, the movable structure 29 comprises, in the form of the invention shown, three peripheral rings 32a, 3219, 32c disposed symmetrically with respect to each other as illustrated and adapted to engage the upper .surface of the tape T.

The members 21, 21aI and the disks 3|, 3|a are formed from iron or other suitable electricityconducting material. Extending, for example,

from the member 21 is a conductor 33'which may include a variable resistance unit 34, the conducv tor 33 leading to one terminal of a suitable source of current, not shown. Extending from the member 21a is a conductor 35 which leads to one terminal of the aforesaid motor 2|, the other terminal of which has connected thereto a conductor 33 leading to the other terminal of said source of current.

When neither the ticker mechanism P nor the motor 2| is operating, the tape T, between said ticker mechanism and the projection eld, is more or less taut and the upper tape surface engages the rings 32a, 32h and 32e, Fig. 3, to thereby hold the movable structure 29 elevated whereby the disks 3|, 3|a are disengaged from the members 21, 21a. Accordingly, under the conditions just recited, the circuit through the motor 2| is open and the tape-pulling means comprising the rollers I2 and I3 is stationary.

When operation of the ticker mechanism P is initiated, the tape section at the entrance to the projection iield becomes more or less slack with the result that the movable structure 29 is permitted to move 'downwardly under the influence of gravity until the disks 3|, 3`|a come into engagement with and bridge the members 21, 21a.

when this happens, the circuit through the motor 2| is closed and, accordingly, the coacting rollers 2 and |3 become effective to draw the tape T from left to right, Fig. 1, through the projection eld.

As clearly appears from a consideration of Fig. 2, the tape T, during operation of the motor 2| is caused to take a tortuous path as it moves past the roller 28, the movable structure 29, and the roller 28a, said movable structure 29 maintaining the tape depressed between the rollers 28, 28a so that it is below the level of the projection field, Fig. 2. Accordingly, in this area of the tape path, the vibrations set up in the tape responsive to operation of the ticker mechanism P are largely or substantially eliminated and, therefore, the section of the tape T in the projection iield at any given time is substantially free from the vibrations transmitted to the tape by the ticker mechanism. As a result, the projected images on the screen move thereacross in a relatively steady manner and, therefore, the projecting operation proceeds in a satisfactory manner. By my invention, therefore, it is unnecessary to use the known J-spring arrangement by which, at the entrance to the projection eld, pressure is applied to the tape by a spring or weight.

The operating conditions of the structure 29 may be varied by changing its weight or by changing the position of one or thev other or both of the supporting members 28.

It is evident that upon reduction in weight of the structure 29, the forces required to break the circuit of the tape-drawingmotor are reduced and vice versa. Both contacts need not be broken at one time as illustrated. The structure 29 need only roll on one member 28 or 28a and away from the other. By 'bringing the supporting members 23, 28a closer together and positioning them slightly to one side of the vertical center line, the contacts could be made to respond, as above, to a slight upward force at the lowermost' point of the structure 29.

It will be noted that, during operation of the motor 2|, i. e., while the disks 3| and 3|a are in engagement with the respective members 21 and 21a, the rings 32a, 32h and 32e are spaced'iro'm the rollers 28 and 28a a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of the tape T. Accordingly, during operation of the disclosed system,'there is no direct binding action on the tape in the vibration-dissipating area. This is in accordance with present preference. However, it shall be understood that the arrangement may be such, if desired, that,'while the tape-drawing operation proceeds, the rings 32a, 32h and 32c do press or hold the tape into engagement with the rollers 28, 28a to some extent. This may be accomplished, for example, by suitably enlarging said rings 32a, 32h and 32C.

In the form of my invention as disclosed, the arrangement comprising the members 28, 28a and the movable structure 29 serve to eliminate vibra- -tions from the tape and also to control operation of the motor 2|. It shall be understood that the invention is not to be thus limited since said members 28, 28a and the structure 29 may be used solely for vibration-eliminating purposes, the

Y motor 2| being controlled by other suitable mechanism.

In this country, narrow ticker tapes of the character herein disclosed have the characters printed on the upper tape face in two rows reading longitudinally lof the tape. It is for- 'this reason that I provide the rings 32a, 32b and 32e.

The-two rows of characters pass betweentherespective pairs of these rings and, therefore, there is no smudging of the freshly inked characters.

Under some circumstances, it may be desirable to provide a member such as the memberv or roller 31 which is suitably mounted in fixed position between the vibration-dissipating rollers andthe ticker lmechanism. This member 31, when used, serves to control the position of the tape in a desired manner to prevent undue movement thereof transverse to its path of movement. f

Preferably, the member 31 is positioned close to the movable structure 29 so as to direct the tape downwardly in the pendantlform. illustrated and prevent it from formingl an arch. This is important because it is preferred to have the tape maintain generally the curved configuration shown in Figs.v Zand 3, i. e.,.the pendanticurve adjacent the ticker and rising at least twice before it enters the projection field. It is evident that, if the tape maintained itself normal to the tangent between the structure 29 and that meniber 28- toward the left, there would be one less bend-orcurve in the tape between the ticker mechanism and the projection field. This would not be objectionable since the arrangement. is satisfactorily operable under the -condition last noted.

In addition to the foregoing, the member 31 serves to prevent undue displacement of the structure 29 and, obviously, suitable means may l be provided on the other side of said structure 29 to serve the same purpose,

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device coactable with a character-bearing tape during passage thereof from a printing mechanism to a projection field, said device comprising a pair of spaced members with which the lower surface of the tape engages prior to passage thereof into said projection field, a movable structure having an extended surface with which the upper surface of the tape engages between said members, said movable structure maintaining the tape depressed between said members, said members and said movable structure cooperating to largely or substantially prevent transmission of tape vibrations into the projection field, and means preventing said movable structure from passing downwardly between said members.

2. A device coactable with a character-bearing tape during passage thereof from a printing mechanism to a projection field, said device comprising a pair of spaced members with which the lower surface of the tape engages prior to passage thereof into said projection eld, and a structure cooperating to largely'or substantially prevent `transmission of tape vibrations into the projection field.

3. A device coactable with a character-bearing tapev during passage thereof from a printing mechanism to a projection eld, said device comprising a pairof spaced members with which the lower surface of thetape engages, and a movable structure with which the upper surface of the tape engages between said `members, said movable structure comprising means adapted to engagesaid spaced members, said tape holding said` movable structure elevated from said spaced-members when said printing mechanism is non-operative, said tape permitting the means of said movable structure to engage said spaced members iduring operation of said printing mechanism, said spaced vmembers and said movable structure cooperating to define a tortuous path for the tape as it moves toward said projection held, said path, throughout the length thereof, having a thickness at least somewhat greater than the thickness of said tape.

Y4. A device coactable with a character-bearing tape during passage thereof from a printing mechanism to a projection field, said device comprising a pair of spaced members with Whichthe lower surface of thev tape engages, a movable structure with which the upper surface of the drawing the tape through said projection field,

drawing the tape through said projection eld, means comprising an electrical circuit for operating said drawing means, said spaced members forming terminals of vsaid electrical circuit, and

a movable structure with which the upper sur-` face of the tape engages between said members, said movable structure comprising means adapted to engage said spaced members, said tape holding said movable structure elevated from said spaced members kwhen said printing mechanism is non-operative, said tape permitting the means of said movable structure to engage said spaced members during operation of said printing mechanism, said movable structure, when thus engaging said spaced members, closing. said electrical circuit.

6. A device coactable with a character-bearing tape during passage thereof from a printing mechanism to a projection field, said device comprising a pair of spaced members with which the lower surface of the tape engages, a motor and an electrical circuit for drawing the tape through said projection field, said spaced members forming terminals of said electrical circuit, and a movable structure with which the upper surface of vthe tape engages between said members, said movable structure comprising ymeans adapted to engage said spaced members, said tape holding said movable structure elevated .from said spaced members when said printing mechanism is non-operative, lsaid tape permitting the means of said movable structure to. en-

gage said spaced members during operation of said printing mechanism, said movable structure, when thus engaging said spaced members, closing said electrical circuit.

7. The combination with means for drawing a character-bearing tape through a projection field after passage thereof from a printing mechanism, and means comprising an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of said drawing means, of a device coactable with said tape during passage thereof from said printing mechanism to said projection eld, said device comprising tape-deiiecting means included in said electrical circuit and with which the lower surface of the tape engages, said device further comprising a movable structure with which the upper surface of the tape engages, said movable structure maintaining the tape depressed adjacent said tape-deflecting means and comprising a member adapted to close said electrical circuit, said tape holding said movable structure elevated from said tape-deilecting means when said printing mechanism is non-operative, said tape permitting said movable structure to descend during operation of said printing mechanism Whereby'said member closes said electrical circuit, said tape-deilecting means and Said movable structure cooperating to largely or substantially prevent transmission of tape vibrations into the projection eld.

8. The combination with means for drawing a character-bearing tape through a projection eld after passage thereof from a printing mechanism, and means comprising an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of said drawing means, of a device coactable with said tape during passage thereof from said printing mechanism to said projection field, said device comprising tapedeiiecting means with which the lower surface of thetape engages, said device further comprising a movable structure with which the upper surface of the tape engages, said tape holding said movable structure elevated from said tapedeflecting means when said printing mechanism is nonzoperative, said tape permitting said movable structure to descend, during operation of said printing mechanism, so as to be supported by said tape-:deflecting means, said tape-deflecting means and said movable structure cooperating to largely or substantially prevent transmission of tape Vibrations into the projection eld, said tape-.deecting means and said movable structure being constructed and arranged to control said electrical circuit.

BENJAMIN KAI-IN. 

